Project to Improve Methods Courses in Elementary Science

位于长滩的加州州立大学将开展一个项目，为教授基础科学方法课程的学院和大学教员举办夏季讲习班，以改进基础科学方法课程。该项目旨在通过加强每学期招收大量小学副教师的小学科学方法课程，改善小学儿童的科学教育。示范教师和科学教师教育专家将举办这些夏季研讨会，与会者将了解最新的研究成果和新的科学教学方法，同时与同事交流思想和建立新的联系。预计这些方法的教员将返回他们的家乡机构，以刺激教师教育的变化，并帮助建立科学和教育学院之间的联系，在他们的机构。在夏季讲习班之后，将通过电子网络、通讯和年度会议进行系统的交流和持续的后续行动。作为后续活动的结果，将编制一系列基础科学方法课程的参考材料供散发。1990年夏季将举办一个试点讲习班，1991年夏季将再举办三个讲习班。研讨会将在美国各地举行，其中一个讲习班将在一个教育大量少数民族学生的机构举行。该项目的总成本分摊是NSF贡献的24%。

California State University, Long Beach, will carry out a project to improve methods courses in elementary science by conducting summer workshops for college and university instructors who teach the elementary science methods course. The project seeks to improve science education for elementary school children by strengthening the elementary science methods courses which enroll large numbers of elementary preservice teachers each semester. Exemplary instructors and science teacher education specialists will conduct these summer workshops, and the participants will learn about recent research findings and new science teaching methods while exchanging ideas and forging new connections with colleagues. It is anticipated that these methods instructors will return to their home institutions to stimulate change in teacher education and help create links between the science and education faculties at their institutions. Systematic communication and continuing follow-up will take place after the summer workshops through electronic networking, newsletters, and annual meetings. As a result of the follow- up activities, an array of resource materials for elementary science methods courses will be developed for dissemination. A pilot workshop will be conducted during the summer of 1990, and three additional workshops will take place during the summer of 1991. The workshops will be held at various geographical locations throughout the U.S., and one of the workshops will take place at an institution that educates large numbers of minority students. The total cost sharing for the project is 24% of NSF's contribution.